Rotary engine.



J. H. RICHARDS. ROTARY ENGINE.

.4 APPLICATION mm mm I6. 1914. 1,209,204.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES; INVENTOR: z I c:

(17 614mm i AT? ORNEY J. H. RICHARDS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION nun MAR. is. 1914.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- 4'0 WITNESSES.- IN VEN TOR:

/1A j jmwawzumw,

ATTORNEY.

1. H. mcrmnns.

ROTARY ENGINE,-

AFPLICATION FILED MAR.!6,19H 1,209,204.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Q SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'TTOhNEY.

J. H. RICHARDS.

ROTARY Emsms. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6. I914.

1,209,204. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

WITNEssm J. H RICHARDS. ROMRY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILE D MAR. 16. I914. 1,209,204. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

V wlrlvsssgs I I Y c%LI%EJIVTOR: l

. ATTORNEY.

' force shall be effective inat least two diree tions or through two power generatin meaxis of rotation.

JAMES H. RICHARDS, OF MOSCGW, IDAHO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed March 16, 1914. Serial No. 825,097.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, James H. Riormnns, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Moscow, in the county of Latah and State of Idaho, United States of Americu, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drayvings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to a. type of engine that is designed to be operated by the use of explosive mixture and to be slightly modified so that either steam or compressed air may be used as the motive force, the invention having reference more particularly to a rotary engine in which the motive force shall act entirely on live or active powertransmitting elements, the engine being of the type in which the principalfportion of the structure necessarily required is utilized in lieu of a se )arate fly-wheel.

An object o the invention. is to provide an engine of such construction asto combine the recognized advantageous features of both the rotary and ,the reciprocatory type of enginein the generation and transmission of ower. i

nether object of the inventidn is to provide a rotary engine that shall he compact and of relatively light weight per horse power, and capable of producing the maximum eflicicncy per unit of fuel consumed, to.

the end that economy in construction and operation may be attained.

A further object of the inyent'ron is to provide a rotary engine of such construction as to be adapted to be operated efliciently at moderate or relatively low speedmnd which shall have relatively few wearing parts, so that the loss of power due to friction shall be reduced to the minimum, the wearing parts being enabled to perform their functions to the maximum and thus reduce the cost of repairs to the minimum extent;

A still further object is to provide a rotary engine of such construction that the motive diumsjn order to obtain the ig e'atest egrea of energy from the motive force, and which engine shall beconveniently balanced on its A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide improved means for cooling rotary explosion engines by utilizing the atmospheric air.

' \Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a rotary engine comprising a hollow power cylinder in which is a novel reciprocatory piston and also a head op used to the piston so that motive force may in! applied to move the piston and the cylinder, a. crank shaft supported so as to be parallel. to the axis of the cylinder, :1 pitman connected to the piston and the crank shaft, and gearing connectcd with the crank shaft for the generation and transmission of power, the engine comprising also novel valves and controlling apparatus therefor and also novel ignition apparatus The invention also consists further in the novel parts and in the combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly describedkmd further defined in the accompanying;claims.

Referring'to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation "of the improved engine con; structed as anj internal combustion engine; Fig. 2, a reargelevation of the engine partially brokeira wayg Fig. 3, a top plan partially broken away, the upper portion of the casing comprised in the air-cooling system being omitted; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section approximately on the plane of the line A' A in F ig. 1, the casing being omitted; Fig. 5, a transverse section approximately on the line BB in Fig. 4 looking toward the front end, the casing being included; Fig. 6, a perspec tive view'of one of the valve-operating de- View; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the cranksha t and pinion or gear wheel thereon; Fig. 8, a transverse section partially broken away on the line B 13 looking toward the rear end of the engine, parts thereof be ing in different positions than in Figs. 4 and 5', Fig. 9, a fragmentary section on the line C C in Fig. 4; Fig. 10, a fragmentary section approximately on the plane of the ine D D I i in Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a section on the line E E in Fig. 11; Fig. 12, a fragmentary section of on no approximately on the lane of I theiin'eF I in Fig. 5; 13, a' ragmentary section on the line G, in Fi 10; Fig.

14;, an endelevatio'n of th cylin.

er of the engine, partially broken away, looliing at the rear end thereof, the rear end wall being omitted; Fig. 15, a perspective view of one of the cylinder heads or tllfllblllt'ill}; on which the motive fOl'lfr acts for the generation of power; Fig. ill, a perspcctho view of the main gear wheel and its axial shaft; Fig. 37, a perspective view of the two iistons with which the engine preferably is provided; Fig. 18, a perspective view. partially broken away, of a combined inlet valw and gear housing; Fig. 19, a fragmentary section showing slight modifications to illustrate the adaptability of the engine to be actuated by means of steam or by compressed air: .ig. 20, a. perspective view ofone of the parts of the combined valve and gear housmg; Fi 21, a fragmentary section on the line H I I-in Fig. 19; Fig. a fragmentary top plan of an engine starter adapted. for use in connection with the improved engine; Fig: 23, a perspective view of one of the flu1d-controllin valve chests with which the engine preferably is provided, and Fig. 24 is a sectional view of a device preferably employed 'in connection with the ignition system. I

Similar reference characters throughout the various figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of constructlon herein referred to in detail.

The improved engine, which is illustrated for the pur ose of a full and clear descrip tion thereo as adapted more particularly as an automobile engine or motor, comprises a suitable frame which in the present case may include two side bars 1 and 2 to which a. suitable transverse head beam 3 is secured, the latter supporting a hanger 4 preferably provided with a bearing box 5 and also a. shaft boa ring 6 above the box 5 for conveniently. supporting an engine starter, The frame also conveniently includes a tail beam .7 secured to the bars 1 and 2. The head cam is provided with a, journal box 8, the IIgail 9beam being provided with a journal 0x 1 A novel form of cylinder comprises a cylindrical wall 10 having external flanges 11 and 12 on its opposite ends respectively. One portion of the cylipdrical wall adapted to and constitutes journal bearin members 13 and 14, the the well being fo med so as to constitute 'ournal bearing m mbers 13 caring members being relatively near the ends of the cylinder. The cylinder is re vided on its opposite ends with end Walls 15 and 16 respectively so as to form an inclo sure, theend fwalls being approximately h i t H side of th as a. cen ra y arran e'd 'ournal bearing 17 herein,"thclr%ar end i vall l6 havmg a sum ar ournal caring 18 therein. The head or front nd wall 15 is provided and 14', the

e head endwith a combined gear housing and valve 19 which preferably is cast or formed separately and secured to the wall, and it has a central bore 2() thercin adapted to receive a supporting shaft. The housing and. valve comprises a )ortion 2]. that is externally cylindrial. and adapted to constitute a valve element and to which a disk-shaped front plate 22 is secured rather than being formed integrally therewith, suitable bolt holes 23 and being provided to receive securing bolts 25, 26, whereby the combined gear housing and valve are fixedly secured to the end wall 15 and also to the plate 22. The front plate of the combined housing and valve is provided with a hollow journal 27 that is rotatably mountew in the. journal box 8, an axial shaft E28 being provided which has a squared portion 29 that is secured against rotation in a holding block 30 which is fixedly secured to the beam 3, the shaft extending through the journal 27 to the end wall 15 of the cylinder, the shaft constituting the axis of rotation of the cyl indcr, so that the combined housing and valve and also the journal 27 rotate in operation on the shaft. The combined housing and valve is suitably recessed or chambered and receives fixedly secured to the inner end of the shaft 28 whereby the wheel is supported stationarily at the outer side of the end wall 15. The rear end wall 16 preferably is removably secured to the flange 12 by means of bolts 32 and it has a cylindrical exhaustcontrolling member 33 thereon which is adapted to assist in cooling the adjacent .walls, as will further appear, the member having a. central hub 34 therein from which extends a supporting journal 35 that is to tatably mounted in the journal box 9. The member preferably separate end portion or movablv scoured bolts 37.

The power cylindcriincludes also two identically formed members which constitute heads 381v ld38 preferably formed separately and secured to opposite portions of the inner side of the cylinder Wall means of bolts 39 and 89, the heads having plate 36 that is rethcreto by means of l g relatively broad bases and with another ,eleopposite [JOIt-IOII of I ment hereinafter escri ed form partitions to divide the iuteriorlof the cylinder into two chambers, the heads extending toward the axis of rotation of the cylinder] The head 38 is adapted to ,and constitutes two shaft bearing members 40 and 41 which are mated to the members 13 and 14 respectively, the head 38' having similar bea ing members 40 and 41 mated-tothe memb s 13' and 14" respectively. The inner ends have concave which are tively,

kbearing faces 42 and 42"in pac ing grooves 43 and 43 respecpacking strips 44 and a main gear wheel 31 which is is provided with a of the heads ranged in the grooves respectively, each strip being opposite to the other. Two crank shafts 4-5 and 45 are rotatably mounted in the bearing members formed by the cylinder wall and the heads and they extend through the front end wall 15 of the cylinder and into suitable I'GCLSSOs or oil-retaining eham' hers in the luiusing-rnemlwr 19, two pinions or gear wheels in and i being fixed on the two shafts respectivi-ily and in mesh with the main gear wheel 51. so that while the pinions are rotated they travel about the main gear wheel and ronscquently cause rotation of the power cylinder, from which motion may be transmitted by various means, as by connecting a shaft. a pulley, or a gear whee to the journal whirh extends beyond its journal box so as to (OllSllitlliO a driving shaft. i he shaft has two crank arms 4-? and 48 and a (rank pin 49, the shaft 45 similarly having two arms 47' and 48' and a crank pin 49. The cylinder wall has suitnl'ilo openings 50 and 50' adapted to permit the operation of the cranks of the respective shafts. one of the openings communicating with one of the chambers, the other opening being in communication with the remaining one of the cimnhers, and the openings are covered by means of caps 51 and respectively. which with the chambers form crank boxes.

An axial. shaft or huh is provided that is cylindrical and extends from the enrl wall 15 to the wall 16 and has trunnions and 54 on opposite ends respectively that are journaled in the hearings l7 and 18 respec-i tively, two pistons 55 and 55 being" fixed on tho shaft 52, the shaft being praetically in contact w th the bearing fares 4i. and l2 of the cylinder heads, so that the pistons are in different rhambers of the cylindeiu ()ne piston is provided with a. lug 56 the other with a log: 56', thelugs being provided respectively with wrist pins 5? and 57. A pitman 38 is ronneotod. to the crank pin 49 and to the wrist pin 57, a similar pitman av being mime-chad lo the (rank pin 49' and also to the wrist pin 27, The shaft 52 preforahl has a longitudinal duct 59 therein extending through the trunnion I14 and connncted with a lransvcrse duct 60 for ronveyinn oil into the two chambers of the cylinder. The hub 3-1 has a longitudinal duct 61 therein extending fro the journal. bearing 18 and into tbs journal and is connected with alatcral duct 62 extending to the surface of th. journal so as to rereivc oil from a pipe 63 connected to the top of the jour nal ho):

v in order l0 be enabled to startthe engine the hollow journal 27 is provided with a gear whool 6L and a oountershalli 65 is rotatably mounted on the bearing (Sand has a {rear wheel 66 splined thereon, thewhecl be i115 ium'ided with a controlli gje'ver 37 for moving the wheel into or out of contart with the wheel 64. The counl'ershaft has also a gear wheel 68 fixed thereon that is engaged by a gear wheel 9 whieh is fixed to a hollow shaft TU rotatably mounted in the bearing 5, the. older end of the. hollow shaft having rlutrh teeth 71 thereon. A crank, shat'i T2 is movahly arranged in the shaft ill and provided with r-luleh teeth 73 adapted o engage the teeth 71 when the shaft is pushed inward. the outer end of the shaft Til being: provided with a crank 74- th re eing a spring 75 on the shaft that is sealed against a bearing bar 76 which serured to llle frame bars 1 and 2 and assists in rotatahiy supporting the shaft 72 whivh is yieldingly pushed outward b the spring. The engine starter obviously may be varied as to details and relative arrangement of parts as may be desired.

In order lo control the admission of e):- plosive mixture to the power ovlinder. an annular valve chest 77 is provided whirl: err tends about the valve portion 21 and has supporting arms 78 and 78' that are secured to the, frame. bars 1 and 2 respectively. so as to be fixedly supported and permit llio 'valvo portion to rotate in ihe ehest, the latter having an inlvt port 79 therein to whieh an in let pipe. 80 is connected. :1. suitable carbu rotor or fuel mixer 81 being connected to lhe pipe. The valve portion 21 has iwo ports 82 and 82' in its peripheral portion from which extend port portions 2 and H3 ha ving orifiees 84- and 8 1- respectively in the end wall 15 of the cylinder, there bring: an orifice in each of the two chambers of the rylinder. When the cylinder rotates car-h port 82 and 852- in succession forms eon1- munieation between the port 79 and the cylinder. The valve chest is arranged between the. plate 22 and a suitable guide lam. formed on the housing and valve member 10 and is provided with packing ring. 85 and 85' in opposite sides respectively. the rides having recesses 86 therein rceeivinn" the packing rings, the recesses having swlo-ls 87 therein receiving springs for yieldingly pressing the parking rings out ward so as to prevent the. esrape of fuel or motive fluid. in some. cases controlling valves i and 89' are suitably seated in the port portions 83 and H13 and provided with operating stems i l) and 90 respertiwly that extend forward through the member 15 and out through the plate 22, the stems being provided with beads 91 and Di against which sirings 92 and 92' are s-ated. the springs icing seated also on the plate 22 and normally holding the valves yieldingly to their seats. Two arms 93 and 93 are pivotally connected to the plate 22 and extend against the outer ends of the valve stems, the arms preferably being provided with rollers ill and. 94' that are in contact with a circular track 95 having a cam or protruding portion 96 which when the roller passes o er it causes the valve to be opened or unseatcd, the track being fixedly supported on the beam 3.

Preferably the chambers of the power cylindcr are vented so as to prevent excessive back pressure or'vacuum in the chambers, the venting being accomplished by means of rent-holes 7 and 97 in the end wall 16, or otherwise as may be desired. The end wall I has exhaust ports 3 and 98 therein that extend toward the end plate 36 and have lateral ports 99 and 99 that extend therefrom to a cylindrical peripheral portion of the member 33 about which extends an annular valve chest 180 having a. port 101 i l-9min to which the ports 99 and 99 are i rely brought into communication in operation. an exhaust pipe 102 being Coni err-tell with the port 101, the valve chest having smaporting arms 103 and 103' that are secured to the frame bars 1 and 2. The wire chest il ll similar to the chest 77, but preferably is smaller in diameter and is arrangiul between the plate 36 and a suitable giuidc face formed on the member 33. lreicrshly in. some cases two valves 104 and NH are seated in the ports 98 and 98' and have sieins 105 and 105 extending through the plate 36, the stems being promled with heads 106, 106, and seating Strings ldl', 107: operating arms 108 and h s" being pivotally connected to the late ill; so as to extend against the. outer on 's of the valve stems and to a circular track 109 fixedly: urcd to the beam 7, the track having: a cam or protruding portion 110 for causing the valves to be periodically uns an 1rd,

For the purpose of igniting the fuel (barges in the cylinder, an electrical disinhaling ring 1 l 1. is fixedly mounted on and u-uhrnds about the mcn'lber 33. an insulating hlch: 113 is s cj-ured to the frame bar 2 and llillllll fll with a binding screw 113 extending into :1 su table soinret in which a coil spring 114 is arranged in contact with the screw, :1 contact rod 115 being niovablyarranged in the socket in Contact with the swing and thereby pressed against the pez-iplcr-ry ol' the ring 111. The ring 111 is grimidtj'rl with electrical connectors 116,

l U3, with which sparloplug 117, 117', are

dclachably connected, the plug being insorted in the end wall 16 of the cylinder, illfiii? being a plug in each of the two chambers or compartments, preferably in proxiinity to the exhaust ports 98 and 98' re repetitively. It will be understood that a circuit wire is to be connected to the binding screw 113. Timing apparatus for the explosions may suitably comprise a disk 118 ro tatably mounted on the shaft 35 and having an arm 119 thereon provided with a controlling rod 120, an insulating ring 121 being secured to the disk and provided w th contact plates 122 and 122 and also binding screws 123 and 123 connected with the plates as is customary, a collar 124- being secured to the shaft 35 and to which an arm 125 is pivotally connected and provided with a roller 126 to roll on the inner side of the insulating rin and across the contact plates for periodica ly making electrical connection between the binding screws and the shaft, and consequently the engine structure, it being understood that circuit wires will be connected with the binding screws, so that, sparking at the spark-plugs shall periodically occur. The LlfiTiUPS may, if desired, have a cover plate 127 secured to the insulating ring.

The air'cooling system preferably includes a chamber 128 formed in the peripheral wall of the chamber having slots or apertures 129 therein at the rear side of which blades 130 project from the wall, the slots and the blades being arranged at oblique angles to the radial so that in 0 oration the blades cause the'atmospheric arr to be drawn through the slots to the chamber, the chamber extending to the Wallsof the 22o haust ports and to the end wall 16, the end portion 36 of the member 33 having outlet 0 enings 131 for the escape of the air from the member 33, r

t 1e chamber to the atmosphere sothat forced circulation through the chamber is assured. A suitable casing extends about the power cylinder and its gear housing, and prefer- 2 1y comprises an end part 132 supported by the frame bars 1 and E and a top part 133 suitably connected to the end part. The gear housing 19 is provided with spirally arranged blades 134 that extend outward nearly to the casing, the cylinder being provided with spirally arranged blades 135,. the blades projecting beyond the flanges of the cylinder so that in operation the atnios pheric air is forcibly drawn through the casing for cooling or preventing excessive heating of the cylinder and various parts subjected to the heat of the motive fluid.

It should be understood that the valve means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder may be variously modified, an example of which is illustrated in Figs. 19 and 21, in which a. shaft 136 is provided in lies of the shaft 52 and has a longitudinal duct 137 therein for I'BCQlSIlIlg the fluid, the duct terminating at a partition wall 138 in the shaft, the main gear wheel 31 being secured to the shaft. The pistons 55 and 55' are arranged between cylinder end walls 139 and 140 adapted to take the place of the walls 15 and 16 respectively, the pistons being fixed on a hollow Shaft 141 jonrnaled on the shaft 136 which has lateral ports 142 communicating with the port 137 so that the 1 ,zomzoe fuel or motive fluid may pass into the cylinder chambers through ports 143 formed in the hub 14.1, the hub having also exhaust ports 114 through which the exhaust gases may escape when moved into communication with a port 145 formed in the wall of the shaft 136' so as to communicate with a longitudinal duct 146 formed also in the shaft. The heads 38 and 3b in the cylinder are adapted to have contact with the hollow shaft 141.

It should be understood that, when de sired to construct the engine so that it may be operated by means of steam or by compressed air, the apparatus comprising the cooling system, and also the apparatus comprising the ignition system, will be omitted as will also the engine starting apparatus, the engine hcin variously modified as to detail so as to adapt it for the use of steam or compressed air as may be desired. Also various modifications may be made as to various details and the relative arrangement of parts, as for instance the power cylinder may he stationarily supported and the shaft 28 be permitted to rotate, all withii scope of the appended claims.

:1 practical use, in operating the engine by means of explosive mixture, the engine may be started by means of .t e engine starter-shown, the operation, of w ich will be obvious, or by other means if preferred.

The tv stime rumba! w througli" th f g I valve means described 84 and 84' separately at the proper periods controlled by the relative arrangement of the ports 82 and 82, or the camorprotruding portion 96,, as may be prearranged. With thepistons approximately in the positions shown in Fig. 5, the explosive mixture is under 'compression and ignition occurs with the result that the piston acted upon and the opposite cylinder head are forced apart, so that the head directly imparts the force of the impulse to rotate the cylinder while the pistons cause rotation of the crank shafts 45 and 45', and consequently the pinigns 46 and 46 which transmit the force exerted on the pistons to the main gear wheel 31 assist in causing the rotation of the cylinder, the full extent of the energy expended being thus utilized in producing the required power. The 'revolving cylinder structure obviously acts as a flywheel. In Fig. 8, the approximate relative positions of the pistons and the cylinder heads after explosion a re seen. When at rest, the luhri' cuting oil obviously gravitates to the lowest point, but in operat on is thrown ahout so as to lubricate the various movable parts and by reason of centrifugal force is thrown out into the caps 51 and 51' to be taken up by tho cranks and thrown about onto the moving parts. Other results of operation oi' the variouselements will he readily on derstood from the detail description of the construction and function thereof without further repetitious explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1 An engine including a hollow cylindrical wall having journal hearings, end walls securedto the cylindrical wall, a shaft rotatably guided in the end walls, a head secured to the cylindrical wall and having sliding contact with the shaft, a piston fixed on the shaft, a crank shaft mounted in the bearings of the cylindrical Wall, and a pitman connected to the piston and the crank shaft.

2. An engine including a hollow two end Walls fixedly secured to the cylinder and, having each a journal bearing in the inner portion thereof, an axial shaft having two ,trunnions rotatabl mounted in the bearings respectively, a piston fixed to the shaft, :1 head fixed to the cylinder, a crank shaft mounted on the cylinder, and a pitmun connected to the piston and the crank shaft.

3. An engine including a cylindrical wall having journal bearings, two end walls secured to the cylindrical wall and having each a shaft bearing in the inner portion thereof, an axial shaft rotatubly guided in the shaft bearings, a head secured to the cylindrical wall and having journal bearicflhidrical wall and the head, a piston fixed (in the axial shaft, and a pitman connected to the piston and the crank shaft.

4. An engine including a hollow cylinder, two end walls secured to the opposite ends respectively of the cylinder and provided with supporting devices, one of the end walls having a/gear housing lixed thereon, an axial shaft rotutably supported in the cylinder by the supporting devices, a piston fixed on the shaft, a head secured to the wall of t e cylinder iind extendingto the shaft, a crank shaft rotutubly supported by Ashe wail. of the hollow cylinder between the Blld; ;WnllS and extcndinginto the gear housingya pinion in the housing and fixed to the crank shaft, a gear wheel mounted in the housiu n, and in mesh with the pinion, and a pitmuu c the crank shaft.

5. An engine iuclluling u. cyliiuler having a chamber therein, the cylindrical wall of the cylinder having an opening therein in communication with the chamber and a cup covering the opening, a crank shaft rotatahly lllfll llltlftl in the opening to operate udchumlicr of the cylinder, and a pitlnaii connmtwl to the crank shaft and the piston.

(3. An onginle iuchuling'u iylindcr having a plurality of'Lchu-mlu-rstherein, the cylin onnected to the piston and shaft rnounted in the journal amont-tho cap, a piston lnovulile in the ported gear housing having two end w:

drical wall of the cylinder having a phr rality of outwardly oflset portions forming a portion of the respective chambers, the wall having also two Series of blades on the outcr'side thereof between the client portions, the blades being spirally inclined, a plurality of crank shafts mounted. in the cylindrical wa ll to operate in the chaml'iers respectively, a plurality of pistons movable in the chambers respectively, and a. plurality of pitmen in the chambers respectively and connected to the piston and the crank shaft therein.

7. An engine including a rotatahly sup an oil-retaining chamber therein, the housing having a Fuel inlet port therein, a cylinder fixedly scoured at one end to the housing and having an explosion chamber in communication with. the port,'a gear wheel in the oil retaining chamber and fixedly supported to permit rotation of the housing, a head fixed in the explosion chamber, a piston movable in the explosion chamber, a crank shaft rot-atahly mounted in the cylinder and extending into the oil-retaining chamber, a pitman connected to the piston and the crank shaft, and a pinion fixed on the crank shaft in the oilretaining chamber in mesh with the gear wheel,

8 An engine including a hollow evliuder having two shaft hearings on the wall there of, a head fixed in'lhr cylinder and having two shaft bearings mated to the shaft hearings oi the cvlinder, a rrauhshaft rotatablv mounted in all the boarings, a piston guiued-to oscillate 'in the cylinder opposite the head, a pitman connected to thr oranl; shaft and the piston. and two and walls fixedly secured-to opposite ends respectively of the cylinderfone of the end walls having an inlet port therein, the remaining end wall having an outlet port thereimtbe ports laing adjacent to the head.

9. An en ine including a cylindrical wall,

ills fixedly secured to the op )ositv ends respectively of the cylindrical wa l, the central Jeri-ion of each end wall having a urnal wiring in the inner side thrive". a iaft rotativcly journaled ii the bearings, a piston fixed on the shaft an movable within the confines of the cyliudriral wall and the end walls, a. bead fixed. to and extending from the cylindrical wall and to"the shaft, a crank shaft nitatalrlv mountedjointly in the head and the cylindrical wall, and a pi'tman connected to the piston and the crank shaft. i

10, An engine. including astationary shaft, a-bollow cylinder having a-gear housing fixed thorium provi led with an oil-retaining rhamber adjacent lo the cylinder, the housing being rotatable on the stationarv shaft, a gear whorl in the chamber of thehousing and fixed therein to thestation- 'fixed to member and elortricully connected with said plug, an insulating block secured ary shaft. means for rotatahly sup orting the housing irulqwndcntly of the s aft, a rrank shaft rotatahly mounted on the cylin der and extending into the chamber and o. posite the periphery of the gear wheel to e carried by the rylindcr about the wheel, a pinion incloscd in the chamber and fixed on the crank shaft and in mesh with the gear wheel, a piston movable in the cylinder, and a pitman connected to the (rank shaft and the piston.

H. An engine including a cylinder, two end walls secured to the opposite ends respectively of the cylinder and provided with means for rotatahly supporting the cylinder, one of the and walls having a ear housing fixed thereon provided externa ly with spirally arranged blades, a casing fixedly supported and extending about the housing and tho blades, a gear wheel in the housing fixedly supported, two pinions rotaiahly sun ported by the cylinder inauesh with the gear wheel to he guided about the wheel.

and movable means in the cylinder for rotating the pinions to rotate the cylinder by means of the gear wheel.

.12. A rotary engine including two unnular valve chests fixedly supported and having earh a port therein, a cylinder provided with two valve members fixed thereon and rou tahhin the valve chests respectively, each member having a port therein extending to the interior of the cylinder and to he moved to communication with the port of the chest. means for rotatably guiding the cyliudm' indqwndently of the chests, a fixedly supported grarwheel, crank shafts rotalahly inouutml on the cylinder and having each a pinion fixed theroon in enga ement with the gear wheel, heads fixed in tie cylinde'r. pistons movably guided in the cylinder. and pitmen connected to the crank shafts and the pistons.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination with a frame, and a ear wheel fixedly supto the piston and the crank shaft, a pinion fixed on the rrauk shaft'in mesh with the gear wheel. an electrical conducting ring and extending about said valve to the frame, my] an elortriea'l contact device supported by the irlnuhtting block and connection with said ring.

14. In a. rotary engine, the combination of 11o portrd by means of tlie frame, of a cylinder having an explosion cylinder rotatably supported for bearing portions of the crank shaft rotatably monnted In the-lawn- 'piston movahly guided witlil'ltjtliel (whittled and provided on one end thereof with an apertured cooling chamber, anexhaust passage leading from the cylinder and through the chamber, an exhaust valve movably mounted in the passage, means adapted to be actuated by explosive force in the cylinder rotating the cylinder, and means acting, on rotation ol the cylinder, to force iatmospheric air through the clinnber fior dpoling said passage and said val 15. In a rotary engine, the ctitib'mtion of a cylinder, two end walls secln led Ito opposite ends respectively of the cylinder, one of'the. walls having a supporting journal and a duet extending through the journal, a shaft guided in the end walls and having a duct therein extending longitudinally from one end thereof and also a port'extending from the duct to the surface of the shaft within the cylinder. the duct of the shaft having connection with the duct of the wall, a piston movable in the cylinder and guided on the shaft, a head lixcd in the cylinder opposite the piston. a crank shaft rotatably mounted jointly the cylinder, and a pitman piston and the crank shaft.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination with a frame, of an.v annular valve chest fixedly connected to the frame and having an inlet port-therein. a cylinder having end walls, one otthc walls being provided with a housing lixcd thereto haying a cylindrical valve portion that is rotatably mounted in the valve chest. said housingiaving a port therein to. periodically form conunuhication with the port in said chest and extending to the cylinder,.a supporting device fixedly mounted on theframe and ha ving a protuberance thereon,and a valve movably mounted in the port in said housing and constructed to be actuated by said pi'otulm'ance when ca rricd into contact therewith.

17. In an engine,'the ttflllllllliltltlll of a cylindrical wall having an opening therein, the wall having two hearing portions on opposite sides of the opening, cured to opposite ends of the cylindrical wall, a e linder head fixedly secllred to'the inner site of the cylindrical wall adjacent the opening in contact with said end walls and having two bearing portions mating the eyl'i ndrica l with, a.

connected to the ing portions of said wall arrator,

of said walls. and-at p tina rconnoeteitto the piston and the crank o ffsaul era shaft. 18. In a rotary engine, the comb nation of p, a cylinder, an end wall secured toone end of the cylinder and rotatably supported, an end wall secured to-tl|e opposite end of the cylinder and having a valve member thereon provided with a journal rotatably supported, said member luivingachamber therein of the cylinder in the head and two endwvalls scan I I having allso a series of extending to the end wall, the end of the chamber being open to the atmosphere, the peripheral wall of said chamber havin a plurality of slots therein and also a plurality of blades on one side of the slots respectively, the blades extending peripheral wall and partially over t and means for rotating the cylinder.

'19. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder an end wall secured to one end of the cylinder, an annular valve chest fixedly supported and having a port therein, and an end wall secured to the opposite end and having a cylindrical valve member tliercon that is rotatable in said chest. said member having a port therein to periodically form connuunication with the port in said chest and extending through the end wall to the cylinder. with a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder operatively connected with the crank shaft. a fixed gca r wheel, and a pinion lixed on the crank shaft in mesh with the gear wheel.

20. In a rotary engine. the combination of alrexplosion cylinder provided with journals rotatablv supported. one end wall of the cylinder having a valve member thereon )lO- vidcd with a cooling chamber extending about the axis of rotation of the cylinder, the chamber having inlets and also outlets, sai(l |m.'n|ber having an exhaust port therein,

slots,

the wall of the port being in said chamber,

crank shaft. a pinion fixed on the crank' shaft. :1 gear wheel fixedly supported in mesh with the pinion. and means for forcing air into said inlets on rotation of the cyliudcr.

'21. In a rotary engine. the combination of a. cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall having two end walls secured thereto for rotatahlv supporting the cylimleratlw cylindrical having jqn rnal hearings therein and projwting spirally arranged blades fixed on the exterior thereof a plurality of heads fixedly secured in the cylinder and having journal bearings mated to the journal hearings of the qvlindrieal ,wall. pistons nw yahly guided in the cylinder,-

crank shafts rotatablv moon-ted in the bearof the cylindrical wall and the heads, aalitmen cohnectcd tothe pistons and the crap shafts respectively. with a casing ex} tending continuously about the cylindrical walladjacent to said blades. 22. In a rotary'clntinc. the combinatin with a l'rannaof an annular valve chest fixedly supported by the frame and having a. port therein. a cylinder having a head lixcd therein, an end wall lixcdly secured to one .end of the. cylinder in contact with the head i and having a port therein adjacent the head,

a gear housing fixedly secured to the end wall and having a cylindrical valve 'ortion rotatable in the chest, said housing aving a port therein i'xtending from the port in said end wall fir periodically forming communication wit the port in said chest, an end wall secured to the opposite end of the cylinder in contact with said head, a piston movable in the cylinder, a crank shaft rotatahly mounted on the cylinder, a pitman connected to the crank shaft and the piston, a pinion fixed on the crank shaft, and a gear wheel fixedly supported in mesh with the pinion.

23. In a rotary engine, the combination with a frame, and a gear wheel fixedly sup ported by the frame, of a cylinder having two end walls, one end wall being provided with a journal rotatably supported by the frame, the wall being providedalso with means for admitting explosive mixture to the cylinder, the remaining wall being provided with a valve member having an exhaust port therein and provided also with a spark plugg -a head fixed in the cylinder, a piston movztoly guided in the cylinder, a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the cylinder, a pitman connected to the piston and the crank shaft, a pinion fixed on the crank shaft in mesh with the gear wheel, an electrical conducting ring fixed to and extending about said valve member, said ring being connected to said plug, an insulating block secured to the frame, a binding screw connected to said block, and a contact device having conducting connection with. said screw and-said ring.

24. In a rotar engine, the combination with a frame o a journal box fixedly secured to the frame, a cylinder having two end walls secured thereto, one of the end walls being provided with a journal that is rotatably su ported bythe frame, a gear housing fixer ly secured to the ncinainihg one of the end walls and having an oil-retaining chamber therein extending to the end wall,

the housing being provided with a hollow {carnal rotatively mounted in the journal mx, a stationary shaft fixedly secured to the frame and extending through the hollow 'journal and the housing, a gear wheel in the said chamber and fixedly secured to the stationary shaft, a driving shaft rotatively mounted on the cylinder and having a crank pin, the driving shaft extending into the said chandler, a pinion in said chamber in mesh withisaid gear wheel and fixed to said drivin -Sl'lllffi a piston movable in'the cyl-" inder, and a itmiin connected to the crank: pin and the piston,

25. In a rotiiry' engnw, the combination with a frame, of a cyliuller having and walls, one end wall heiini, provided with a journal rotatably supported by the frame, an annul ar valve chest fixedly connected to the frame and having an inlet port therein, a housing fixedly secured to the remaining one of the end walls and having a-cylindrical valve portion rotatably mountedin the chest, said housing having a port therein to periodically form communication with the port in said chest and extending to the cylinder, packing rings for reventing escape of fii'iid from the interior o said ghest aeineulagtraclt fixedly mountedoirth'e frame: and having a protuberafi'c'e thereon, a valve movabl mounted in the port in said housing an having a stem extending out beyond the housing, an arm pivoted to the housing and extending opposite the end stem to the track to be actuated hj' said protuberance for operating the alve, and power means for rotating the cylinder.

26. In a rotary engine, the combination with a frame, of an ex losion cylinder rotatably mounted on the rame and including an end wall having a cylindrical valve member thereon extending along the axis of rotation of the cylinder, the member having a chamber therein extending from the end wall, the end wall of the chamber having an outlet aperture therein, said member having an exhaust port therein extending from the explosion cylinder, the wall of the port being in said chamber,-the cylindrical wall of the valve member having apertures therein and also blades projecting from the rear side of the apertures for forcing atmospheric air into the apertures and through said chamber to cool said port wall, a piston movable in said cylinder adjacent said end' wall, a crank shaft rotatably mounted on said cylinder, a .pitman connectcd to the piston and the crank shaft, a

pinion fixed on said crank shaft and a gear wheel fixedly supported in mesh withsaid pin on.

27. In a rotary engine, of a cylinder, an annular valve chest fixedly supported 'nd having a port therein, an end wall so iired to one end of *the cylinder and having a cylindrical valve member thereon that is rotatable in said chest, said member having a port therein to periodically form communication with the port in sai chest and extending through the end wall to the cylinder, an annular track fin edly supported and having a protuberance thereon, a valve seated to normally close the port and having a stem extending beyond.

the c bination a sfatfls Ind tosaidtrackrto'be periodi- "Min seatingsai ve, with a spring for seating said valve, a head secured to the opposite end of the cylinder, a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the cylinder, at lixed' ear whecl, a pinion fixed on. the crank shait in I said protuberance for unmesh with the gear wheel, and a piston in the cylinder operativcly connected with the crank shaft.

28. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a journal box secured to the frame, a cylindrical. wall, two end walls secured to opposite ends oi the cylindrical wall and having each a journal hearing in the inner side thereof, one of the end walls having a hub thereon and a journal extending from the hub, the journal bcin rotetably supported in the journal box, t e hub and the journal hearing having a continuous oil-du t therein extending longitudinally to the adjacent journal bearing in the end wall,

. the journal having a lateral duct therein extending from the oil-duct to the interior of the journal box, the opposite one of the end walls being rotatably supported by the frame, two heads fixed to the cylindrical wall and ext nding each toward the other,

a shaft rotatively supported in tin journal the shaft having also a. transverse walls and extending between said heads said shaft having a longitudinal duet therein havin communication with said oil-duct in sai bearing, duct ex-- tending from the longitudinal duct therein to opposite portions of the exterior of the shaft, two pistons fixed on said shaft on opposite sides of said transverse duct, two crank shafts rotatably mounted -on the cylindrical wall and connected respectively bearings of the end with the two pistons, two pinions fixed on and a. gear the crank shafts respectively,

with the wheel fixedly supported in mesh two pinions. v-

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

E. T. Smvms, J. H. GARDNER. 

